TWO-WAY WEB LOCK
A lock that includes a lock housing having a slot therein for receiving a band therethrough, wherein in the locked position the band is frictionally-engaged by the lock housing, and wherein in the unlocked position the band is released from frictional locking engagement with the lock member.
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This invention relates to a two-way web lock of the type that grips an elongate web, such as a tape, belt or cord, and prevents translational movement of the web in both directions along its longitudinal axis. The web lock is disclosed and claimed with relation to a child's booster seat with an adjustable seat back. The web is referred to in this application as a “band”, and is intended to broadly cover any elongate tape, belt, cord, chain or rope capable of being gripped in the manner disclosed and claimed in this application.
Booster seats are now required for transporting children of specified ages, such as ages 2-6, in a vehicle, and are generally secured to the vehicle seat by the vehicle seat seatbelt or by some other means. Because of the relatively wide range of ages and thus sizes that the booster seat will accommodate, it is necessary to allow adjustment of the seat back to properly position the lumbar area of the seat occupant on the seat back and the head of the occupant on the headrest positioned at the top of the seat back.
The lock disclosed and claimed in this application has features that facilitate easy adjustment of a band and enable a positive locking grip that prevents movement of the band in both directions along its longitudinal axis. As will be apparent from the following description, the features of the lock embodiments have application in any application where it is necessary to lock a band against movement in both directions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a lock that will lock a web against movement in both longitudinal directions.
It is another object of the invention to provide a lock that is easily operated.
It is another object of the invention to provide a lock that allows progressive movement between locked and unlocked positions.
It is another object of the invention to provide a lock that is particularly suited for use with a booster seat of the type having a seat back that is vertically adjustable by means of a moveable band on which an operating part of the seat back is mounted.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a lock that includes a lock housing having a slot therein for receiving a band therethrough, whereby in the locked position the band is frictionally-engaged by the lock housing, and whereby in the unlocked position the band is released from frictional locking engagement with the lock member.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock comprises a lock housing having a void therein, and a rotatable lock member mounted in the void of the lock housing. The lock member includes a slot therein for receiving the band therethrough, whereby in the locked position the band is frictionally-engaged by the lock housing, and whereby in the unlocked position the band is released from frictional locking engagement with the lock member
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock housing includes a generally annular interior surface and the lock member includes a generally annular exterior surface.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock housing includes a void defining a generally cylindrical interior surface and first and second opposed slots communicating through the lock housing with the void for receiving the band through the first slot, the void and through the second slot. The lock member includes a cylindrical exterior surface mounted in the void of the lock housing interior surface of the lock housing and defines a space between the cylindrical interior and exterior surfaces. The space and the thickness of the band is such as to provide progressively greater frictional engagement between the respective exterior and interior surfaces as the lock member is rotated from the unlocked to the locked positions.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock housing includes first and second opposed slots positioned for alignment with the slot in the rotatable lock member when the lock is in the unlocked position and positioned for a misalignment with the slot in the rotatable lock member of about 90 degrees in the locked position.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock includes a handle carried by the rotatable lock member for manually moving the lock member between locked and unlocked positions.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock comprises first and second lock members positioned adjacent each other and having a respective band-engaging element defining a slot therebetween for receiving the band therethrough. A void is formed by facing surfaces of the lock members and is sufficiently large to permit free passage of the band through the void in both the locked and unlocked lock positions. A lock operator cooperates with the lock members for moving the lock members towards each other into the locked position whereby the band is clamped between the band-engaging elements. Moving the band-engaging members away from each other into the unlocked position allows the band to move freely past the band-engaging elements.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock members comprise blocks, at least one of the blocks having a concavity defining the void.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock members comprise first and second blocks, each of the first and second blocks having a concavity, the respective concavities collectively defining the void.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock comprises first and second lock members positioned adjacent each other and having first and second pairs of spaced-apart band-engaging elements defining a slot therebetween for receiving the band therethrough. A void is formed by facing surfaces of the lock members intermediate the first and second pairs of band-engaging elements. The void is sufficiently large to permit free passage of the band through the void in both the locked and unlocked lock positions. A lock operator cooperates with the lock members for moving the lock members towards each other into the locked position whereby the band is clamped between the first and second pairs of band-engaging elements, and moving the band-engaging members away from each other into the unlocked position whereby the band is allowed to move freely past the first and second pairs of band-engaging elements.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock members comprise blocks, and the respective concavities are formed by a pair of planar walls converging at a common intersection to define a notch.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock operator comprises a cam roller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSSome of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the discussion of the invention proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Referring now specifically to the drawings, a booster seat having a lock according to the present invention is illustrated in
The seat bottom 11 includes a pair of arm rests 14, 15, and is covered with conventional padding and dress cover 16. The seat back 12 includes side bolsters 17, 18, seat belt guides 20, 21 and a headrest 22. The seat back 12 is also covered by conventional padding and dress cover 24.
As is shown in
Referring now to
By comparing
Fixing the band 40 at the desired position may be accomplished by any suitable locking means. Two alternative locks 50 and 70 are illustrated in
Referring now to
Lock member 60 has a band slot 62 that extends through the diameter thereof and receives the band 40 therethrough. The diameter of the bore 58 is greater than the lock member 60 by an amount just sufficient to allow frictional contact passage of the band 40 between them without binding. A handle 64 is received in slots 60A in the lock member 60 and attached by screws 65, as shown. Coil springs 66 positioned on the lock member 60 bias the handle 64 in the down, locked position.
Operation of the lock 50 is shown in
To fix the band 40 into a particular position thereby locking the seat back 12 into the desired position, the handle 64 is used to rotate the lock member 60 and thus cause a misalignment of the slot 62 with the slot 56. As is shown in
Referring now to
As is shown in
As is shown in
A two-way lock is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A lock comprising a lock housing including a slot therein for receiving a band therethrough, wherein in the locked position the band is frictionally-engaged by the lock housing, and wherein in the unlocked position the band is released from frictional locking engagement with the lock housing.
2. A lock according to claim 1, wherein the lock comprises:
- (a) a lock housing having a void therein;
- (b) a rotatable lock member mounted in the void of the lock housing, the lock member including a slot therein for receiving the band therethrough, whereby in the locked position the band is frictionally-engaged by the lock housing, and whereby in the unlocked position the band is released from frictional locking engagement with the lock member.
3. A lock according to claim 2, wherein the lock housing includes a generally annular interior surface and the lock member includes a generally annular exterior surface.
4. A lock according to claim 2, wherein:
- (a) the lock housing includes a void defining a generally cylindrical interior surface and first and second opposed slots communicating through the lock housing with the void for receiving the band through the first slot, the void and through the second slot;
- (b) the lock member includes a cylindrical exterior surface mounted in the void of the lock housing interior surface of the lock housing and defining a space between the cylindrical interior and exterior surfaces, the space and the thickness of the band being such as to provide progressively greater frictional engagement between the respective exterior and interior surfaces as the lock member is rotated from the unlocked to the locked positions.
5. A lock according to claim 4, wherein the lock housing includes first and second opposed slots positioned for alignment with the slot in the rotatable lock member when the lock is in the unlocked position and positioned for a misalignment with the slot in the rotatable lock member of about 90 degrees in the locked position.
6. A lock according to claim 5, and including a handle carried by the rotatable lock member for manually moving the lock member between locked and unlocked positions.
7. A lock according to claim 1, wherein the lock comprises:
- (a) first and second lock members positioned adjacent each other and having a respective band-engaging element defining a slot therebetween for receiving the band therethrough:
- (b) a void formed by facing surfaces of the lock members and being sufficiently large to permit free passage of the band through the void in both the locked and unlocked lock positions;
- (c) a lock operator cooperating with the lock members for: (1) moving the lock members towards each other into the locked position whereby the band is clamped between the band-engaging elements; and (2) moving the band-engaging members away from each other into the unlocked position wherein the band is allowed to move freely past the band-engaging elements.
8. A lock according to claim 7, wherein the lock members comprise blocks, at least one of the blocks having a concavity defining the void.
9. A lock according to claim 7, wherein the lock members comprise first and second blocks, each of the first and second blocks having a concavity, the respective concavities collectively defining the void.
10. A lock according to claim 1, wherein the lock comprises:
- (a) first and second lock members positioned adjacent each other and having first and second pairs of spaced-apart band-engaging elements defining a slot therebetween for receiving the band therethrough:
- (b) a void formed by facing surfaces of the lock members intermediate the first and second pairs of band-engaging elements, the void being sufficiently large to permit free passage of the band through the void in both the locked and unlocked lock positions;
- (c) a lock operator cooperating with the lock members for: (1) moving the lock members towards each other into the locked position wherein the band is clamped between the first and second pairs of band-engaging elements; and (2) moving the band-engaging members away from each other into the unlocked position wherein the band is allowed to move freely past the first and second pairs of band-engaging elements.
11. A lock according to claim 10, wherein the lock members comprise blocks, and the respective concavities are formed by a pair of planar walls converging at a common intersection to define a notch.
12. A lock according to claim 10, wherein the lock operator comprises a cam roller.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 22, 2007
Applicant: BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC. (Charlotte, NC)
Inventor: Jerry Campbell (Rock Hill, SC)
Application Number: 11/161,834
International Classification: F16G 11/00 (20060101);